(1st row) Representatives Virgilio Lacson, Alberto Ungab and Erico Aristotle Aumentado (2nd, 3rd and 5th from left) and DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla (extreme left) with IAEA experts and officials from various government agencies during the opening ceremonies of the National Workshop to Inform High-Level Officials About Nuclear Law at the Xenia Hotel, Clark Freeport, Pampanga on February 27, 2018.
Philippines Hosts IAEA Mission to Inform High-Level Officials on Nuclear Law
To help strengthen its national nuclear legislative and regulatory framework, the Philippines hosted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Awareness and Legislative Assistance Mission composed of technical experts in legal matters as well as nuclear safety and regulations, and the National Workshop to Inform High-Level Officials About Nuclear Law from February 26 to March 2, 2018 at Clark Freeport in Pampanga.
The mission was conducted through the efforts of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the IAEA Project RAS0071 on “Providing Legislative Assistance on Establishing and Upgrading the Legal Framework for Safe, Secure and Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy.”
Legislators from the House of Representatives were joined by Science Secretary Fortunato De La Peña along with officials from DOST, DOE and other government agencies during the four-day event.
As the Philippine government goes through the decision process in coming up with a national policy on a nuclear power program, the mission and workshop discussions revolve around the establishment of a comprehensive legislation for the Philippines consistent with international standards on nuclear safety and security.
These intend to cover various aspects of regulating nuclear facilities such as authorization, inspection and enforcement of regulations, safety and physical protection in nuclear installations, spent fuel and radioactive waste management, emergency preparedness and response, transportation of nuclear materials, and civil liability for damages involving nuclear and radioactive materials.
The bill for the Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act is currently making progress in both houses of Congress. At the House of Representatives, the bill is sponsored by 30 co-authors in a consolidated substitute bill approved at a joint meeting of the House Committees on Science and Technology and Government Reorganization in November last year.
Meanwhile, a counterpart bill for the Comprehensive Nuclear Regulations Act is currently filed in the Senate by Senator Vicente Sotto III, who was the guest of honor during the IAEA mission.
Upon its enactment into law, the Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act will provide for the establishment of an independent nuclear regulatory body, the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which will succeed the DOST-PNRI in its mandate to regulate the safe and peaceful uses of nuclear and radioactive materials in the country.
